Scan barcode
historyofjess's reviews
2011 reviews
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was fun. It took awhile for me to fully get into it, but the smashing together of science fiction and fantasy/science and magic was a great time. I wasn’t always engaged with the characters and rarely both at the same time, but there was a fun whimsy to this journey that kept me going and I was really satisfied with the ending.
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
After reading Zami, this was a bit of a comedown, just because it was a little more scattered due to the nature of it being a collection of pieces rather than a full, fluid story. It took me a bit to get into it, but I was really engaged when Lorde started focusing on rage/anger, particular as it pertains to Black women. Her perspective is fascinating and incredibly engaging.
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm a bit split on this book. The romance is very sweet and lovely and it's a rare instance of magick/witchcraft being represented more honestly and realistically than you often see in fiction. However, I also found this book incredibly difficult to read at times because the main characters anxiety was a LOT for me to deal with as someone who has their own anxiety. It's hard for me to judge that part of the book objectively because I was just kind of trucking through it to get to the softer, sweeter parts.
Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite by Natalie C. Parker, Zoraida Córdova
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
As with most anthologies, this is a bit of a mixed bag. None of these stories were bad, but some were definitely far better and a lot more fun. The best and most interesting stories broadened vampire stories by adding more marginalized representation in their characters (e.g., a fat, bisexual slayer; a Desi guide to using newfound vampirism to combat colonization; a disabled vampire whose disability is not cured by immortality, but who can still utilize her new abilities to get revenge on the father that "mercy" killed her). The big distinction in this collection, for me, was the editors' need to add a little commentary after each story. It felt fairly superfluous and, over time, just kind of annoying...especially given that each of them seemed to conclude with a weak discussion-style question. I just didn't get it and it or find it additive. The stories spoke for themselves and did not require anything additional.
My favorites were definitely Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy and A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed. Honorable mention to In Kind by Kayla Whaley.
My favorites were definitely Senior Year Sucks by Julie Murphy and A Guidebook for the Newly Sired Desi Vampire by Samira Ahmed. Honorable mention to In Kind by Kayla Whaley.
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Baldwin's prose is undeniably beautiful, but I had a hard time getting into this, largely because I had a hard time connecting with the central character. Add to that, that there have been many other versions of this story told and it just kind of left me with a meh kind of feeling. While I sympathized with David's struggle to come to terms with his own sexuality and his complete inability to not harm everyone he cared about in doing so, I think I struggled to cozy up to a guy that what spending his mid to late 20s galavanting around Europe and breaking hearts.
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was fun. I enjoyed some parts of the book more than others, but, overall, I was delighted with how, in the midst of the big scary battle of the death gods, it found a way to be occasionally whimsical and charming. A big part of this was the characterization of the central character, particularly when she goes off on anxious, mental spirals (relatable). That, along with the push and pull of the humanity and emotions seeping from her to her death god companion, made for some really fun chapters.
I was definitely much less invested in the Goth Bro Gods, as a whole. They were fine, but just kinda boring as characters. Cassiopeia is definitely the star as this book, as she's fun and flawed heroine that has a very impressive arc...but she makes the fellas around her look like drips by comparison.
I was definitely much less invested in the Goth Bro Gods, as a whole. They were fine, but just kinda boring as characters. Cassiopeia is definitely the star as this book, as she's fun and flawed heroine that has a very impressive arc...but she makes the fellas around her look like drips by comparison.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Having just crashed into the currently very trendy "romantasy" genre via Fourth Wing/Iron Flame, it seemed appropriate to tackle this book that's been on my TBR pile for a minute, since Maas has been making this portmanteau genre her home for quite some time and with a very intense following. This just seemed very much a "if you liked that, you will like this" sort of thing.
And I gotta say...this was underwhelming. In particular, I found both the romance and the fantasy in this to be fairly meh. For me, the combo of those two is a recipe for good, popcorn fun and I just didn't have fun with this. The roll out of the world-building felt clunky and kind of un-ending. The characters were fairly dull. Chunks of the character's world would just slot in and out, based on what the plot required, in a way that made me feel very distant from the supporting characters (oh, you're starting to like this character...they will be leaving the story now and may never come back, at least not in any substantive way).
Aside from that lack of connection I felt to the material, I just also found some of this content to be really icky in a way that does not at all make me interested in the author's other work. Obviously, when you're making a version of Beauty and the Beast (which this clearly is), you're going to have to reckon with that original tale's massive issues with consent and I think you could say that Maas does that in some ways with main romance (not always well), but when it gets to the latter third of the book that goes completely out the window. I don't know what the hell she was thinking having her protagonist go through repeated instances of being drugged to the point of not consenting or remembering what happened to her while a dude manhandles her in public. It's just so gross and I hated every part of it.
And I gotta say...this was underwhelming. In particular, I found both the romance and the fantasy in this to be fairly meh. For me, the combo of those two is a recipe for good, popcorn fun and I just didn't have fun with this. The roll out of the world-building felt clunky and kind of un-ending. The characters were fairly dull. Chunks of the character's world would just slot in and out, based on what the plot required, in a way that made me feel very distant from the supporting characters (oh, you're starting to like this character...they will be leaving the story now and may never come back, at least not in any substantive way).
Aside from that lack of connection I felt to the material, I just also found some of this content to be really icky in a way that does not at all make me interested in the author's other work. Obviously, when you're making a version of Beauty and the Beast (which this clearly is), you're going to have to reckon with that original tale's massive issues with consent and I think you could say that Maas does that in some ways with main romance (not always well), but when it gets to the latter third of the book that goes completely out the window. I don't know what the hell she was thinking having her protagonist go through repeated instances of being drugged to the point of not consenting or remembering what happened to her while a dude manhandles her in public. It's just so gross and I hated every part of it.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
You can know, intellectually, a lot of the information that Bryan Stevenson wants to convey in this book and still be knocked down by the force of this book. In his time representing people on death row, Stevenson has amassed many stories and any one of them could shake you to the core, but, cumulatively, they will bore into your soul.
Not everyone Bryan Stevenson has represented or discusses here is innocent of the crimes they ended up on death row, but all of them needed someone to fight for them. Some were children at the times of their crimes. Some had severe mental disabilities. Some committed crimes that did not fit the statue for the death penalty. The stories can be quite harrowing, especially not all of them result in Stevenson’s success in court. While these were not always easy to read, I’m very grateful that he shared his experiences of meeting and advocating for these people. It’s an intensely compelling work of empathy and commitment.
Heart in a Box by Kelly Thompson
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This started off in a pretty dark place, so I was pleasantly surprised when it resolved in a really sweet and heartwarming place.
I struggled with the artwork occasionally, as it isn’t totally to my taste (and sometimes I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at), but I did really love the way the artist depicted the hearts and what happened when a piece was found, that was really beautiful.
I struggled with the artwork occasionally, as it isn’t totally to my taste (and sometimes I wasn’t entirely sure what I was looking at), but I did really love the way the artist depicted the hearts and what happened when a piece was found, that was really beautiful.
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I could have used a little more meat on the bone here. There were interesting bits, but mostly I felt like I was being taken through everything a little too quickly and didn't really get a chance to latch on to anything. The ending was interesting, but I just wanted a little more of the relationship between the mermaid and the plague doctor and a little less of the creepy surgeons if I was going to spend so little time in this world.